The NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate features five marquee games spanning over 13 hours, showcasing top stars, rivalries, and emerging talents. All games are nationally televised and simulcast on ABC and ESPN, with streaming available on the ESPN app or services like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo.
Here’s the full schedule (all times Eastern):
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
Highlights: Donovan Mitchell vs. Jalen Brunson in a battle of top scorers. The Knicks, fresh off winning the 2025 NBA Cup, host with momentum.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Time: ~2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Oklahoma City
Highlights: Victor Wembanyama vs. reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Thunder. A budding rivalry with Christmas debuts for several stars, including Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco
Highlights: Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg (Dallas) makes his Christmas debut against Stephen Curry. Features Klay Thompson returning to face his former team.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Highlights: LeBron James (record 20th Christmas appearance) and Luka Dončić host Kevin Durant. A clash of legends with Durant in his first Christmas game as a Rocket.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ball Arena, Denver
Highlights: Anthony Edwards vs. three-time MVP Nikola Jokić in a Western Conference contender showdown.
Betting Odds Overview (as of December 24, subject to change; via major sportsbooks like DraftKings/FanDuel)
Cavaliers at Knicks: Knicks favored by ~6 points
Spurs at Thunder: Thunder heavy favorites (~9-10 points)
Mavericks at Warriors: Warriors favored by ~8.5 points (O/U ~227.5)
Rockets at Lakers: Rockets favored by ~3 points (Lakers as rare home underdogs)
Timberwolves at Nuggets: Nuggets slight favorites (~3.5 points)
This slate mixes historic venues, superstar matchups, and next-gen talent—perfect for holiday viewing! Enjoy the games.